Olney: Market could favour Blue Jays in free agent pursuits

NOTE: Kyle Schwarber reached a five-year, $150 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies later Tuesday morning, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

There are plenty of big-name free agents on the market and according to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Toronto Blue Jays are in a good position without as many high-spending teams participating at the top of the market this winter.

Olney joined TSN 1050 Toronto’s First Up with Aaron Korolnek and Carlo Colaiacovo Tuesday and said the Jays are among the teams with the most money to spend.

“I will tell you that, generally speaking, when you talk to agents and you talk to teams, there is going to be a much smaller amount of money spent in free agency this winter. It feels like a lot of the big boys are sitting this one out,” Olney said.

“The Dodgers, they’ll add to the bullpen help and maybe do things around the edges, but they’re not going big. I think the Yankees, they’re in on Cody Bellinger, but I don’t think they’re going to be out there adding a $200 million player.”

According to Olney, that leaves the Jays in a good position to continue to make additions.

“And so, from the Blue Jays perspective as one of the teams actually bidding, it is great. It’s like they’re the richest team walking into a store saying we’ll take this, we’ll take this, we’ll take this, because they’re not necessarily competing against many of the teams,” Olney said.

The Blue Jays have already made a major addition this off-season to their pitching staff, signing right-hander Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract. They also inked pitcher Cody Ponce to a three-year, $30 million deal and righty Shane Bieber opted into a $16 million player option for 2026.

Olney noted the Jays’ interest in outfielder Kyle Tucker and said he might he waiting for one free agent domino to fall before deciding his destination.

“I think a lot of what’s going on with [Tucker] – and Bo Bichette for that matter – might be tied first to Kyle Schwarber. Kyle Schwarber is kind of looked at as being the guy in the market. His situation kind of needs to resolve. And if he goes back to Philadelphia, that might limit even more so the number of teams that are in on Kyle Tucker.”

“If Schwarber goes to the Mets, that opens up dollars in Philadelphia and maybe Tucker potentially could be talking to the Phillies. But if not, I think the Blue Jays are in a great spot if that’s the player that they want. And I’m struggling to find other teams that are out there saying yeah, we’ll give Tucker $400 million,” he said.

A left-handed power bat, Tucker slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs and 73 RBI in 136 games last season for the Chicago Cubs. He is widely expected to land the biggest free agent contract of the off-season.

As for Bo Bichette, Olney sees a relatively limited market of teams willing to shell out hundreds of millions for him, but said Bichette’s bat-to-ball make him valued by a number of teams. He listed the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox as possible suitors if he were to leave the Jays.

“I mean, Bo is valued in the market because, and I think he demonstrated during the World Series, he’s got a unique set of hitting skills. I just think again, Schwarber needs to sign before more clarity develops for Bo and for Tucker.”

Olney said the Jays are also interested in upgrading their bullpen and pointed to Robert Suarez as a possible fit due to him likely carrying a cheaper price tag than Edwin Diaz, who Olney notes is looking for $100 million-plus. Olney lists the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres as two other possible landing spot for the 35-year-old.